German · Speaking · A1
How Are You in German? Wie geht's and How to Reply Naturally
Learn how to ask and answer “How are you?” in German, from Wie geht's? to Wie geht es Ihnen? — with simple replies and natural ways to ask back.
Xmentra Learning TeamUpdated 11 August 20268 min read
Knowing that Wie geht's? means “How are you?” is only half the exchange. The useful part is knowing what to say next — and how to hand the question back.
The quick answer
Here is one complete informal exchange you can use immediately:
Wie geht's?
How are you? / How's it going?
Gut, danke. Und dir?
Good, thanks. And you?
Auch gut, danke.
Good too, thanks.
The pattern is simple: ask, answer, ask back, then continue. A short answer is enough; returning the question makes it a conversation.
Wie geht's?, Wie geht es dir? and Wie geht es Ihnen?
Wie geht's?
How are you? / How's it going?
Short and common. Especially easy to use in relaxed conversation; the surrounding context still determines formality.
Wie geht es dir?
How are you?
Explicitly addresses one person informally.
Wie geht es Ihnen?
How are you?
The polite or formal form.
The shorter Wie geht's? is particularly useful when the interaction is relaxed. Use Wie geht es Ihnen? when polite distance matters. They do not fit every context in the same way.
You do not need a full lesson on du and Sie yet. For now, notice that informal dir changes to formal Ihnen, with a capital letter.
What can I actually answer?
Choose a short answer that reflects how you are doing:
Sehr gut.
Very good.
Gut, danke.
Good, thanks.
Mir geht's gut.
I'm doing well.
Ganz gut.
Pretty good.
Es geht.
I'm okay. / So-so.
Nicht so gut.
Not so good.
Ganz gut is positive but less enthusiastic than sehr gut. Es geht suggests things are only okay. You do not have to give a positive answer, and you do not have to explain more unless you want to.
The part beginners forget: ask back
After answering, return the question with Und dir? informally or Und Ihnen? politely.
Wie geht's?
How are you?
Gut, danke. Und dir?
Good, thanks. And you?
Auch gut.
Good too.
Wie geht es Ihnen?
How are you?
Gut, danke. Und Ihnen?
Good, thanks. And you?
Auch gut, danke.
Good too, thanks.
Mir geht's gut — not automatically Ich bin gut
To say that you are doing well, use Mir geht's gut. German commonly uses this pattern when talking about wellbeing.
Wie geht's? — Mir geht's gut.
How are you? — I'm doing well.
Ich bin gut can be grammatical in other contexts and meanings, but it is not the normal direct answer to Wie geht's? when you mean “I'm doing well.” Learn Mir geht's gut as one useful phrase for now.
How much should I say?
The amount you say depends on who is asking, how well you know them, the setting, and whether the conversation is actually continuing. A simple Gut, danke. can be completely sufficient.
With someone you know well, you may naturally add more. As a beginner, start with a clear short answer and listen for whether the other person continues.
Casual versions you may hear
As conversations become more relaxed, you may hear these expressions. Recognising them is more important than memorising them immediately.
Alles gut?
Everything okay?
Often checks whether things are all right.
Alles klar?
Everything okay?
A casual check-in whose meaning depends on context.
Na?
Well? / Hey?
A very brief, casual opener rather than an exact translation of Wie geht's?
Two complete conversations
An informal exchange:
Hallo, Lena! Wie geht's?
Hello, Lena! How are you?
Gut, danke. Und dir?
Good, thanks. And you?
Auch gut, danke.
Good too, thanks.
A polite exchange:
Guten Tag, Frau Weber. Wie geht es Ihnen?
Hello, Ms Weber. How are you?
Gut, danke. Und Ihnen?
Good, thanks. And you?
Auch gut, danke.
Good too, thanks.
From greeting to conversation
A greeting opens the interaction; asking about wellbeing moves it forward. Put the steps together like this:
Hallo!
Hello!
Greeting
Wie geht's?
How are you?
Wellbeing
Gut, danke. Und dir?
Good, thanks. And you?
Answer and ask back
Once your German greetings feel familiar, this is a natural next step: keep the greeting, add one question, then leave room for an answer.
What should an A1 beginner remember?
Reduce the whole exchange to these four phrases:
Wie geht's?
How are you? / How's it going?
Gut, danke.
Good, thanks.
Und dir?
And you? — informal
Wie geht es Ihnen?
How are you? — polite/formal
When you use the polite question, return it with Und Ihnen?. That is enough to ask, answer, and keep a first conversation moving.
Common questions
- What does Wie geht's? mean?
- Wie geht's? means “How are you?” or “How's it going?” It is a short, common question, especially in relaxed interaction.
- What is the difference between Wie geht's? and Wie geht es Ihnen?
- Wie geht's? is short and common, particularly in informal situations. Wie geht es Ihnen? explicitly addresses someone politely or formally.
- How do you reply to Wie geht's?
- A simple reply is Gut, danke. You can continue the exchange with Und dir? in an informal conversation or Und Ihnen? in a polite one.
- Can I say Ich bin gut for “I'm good” in German?
- Ich bin gut can be grammatical in other contexts, but it is not the normal answer when you mean that you are doing well. Say Mir geht's gut instead.
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